Identification device for luggage



L. B. COLEMAN IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR LUGGAGE Filed June 6, 1946 March13, 1951 H 7% m t. Z W 1 ,25. 4,/N 27 7l, w E

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 satz 2,545,262 y IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FonLUGGAGE Lester B. Coleman, New York, N. Y. i

Application June 6, 1946, Serial No. 677,360

' s Claims. (01.40-61) The present invention relates to improvements Ainidentification devices, and more specifically, to a new and improvedidentification holder for luggage, handbags, brief cases, and the like.

It is well known to attach identification tags, which bear the ownersname and address, to suitcases, trunks, or brief cases. However, thesehitherto'used identification devices can easily be torn off or lost,which is highly objectionable. Moreover, they display openly the nameand address of the owner thus subjecting him possibly to undesiredsolicitations or invasions of his privacy.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is the provision ofa device of the character described which is firmly secured to andembedded into the suitcase or other object to be identied, so that itcannot be removed inadvertently regardless of to how rough a treatmentsaid object may be subjected.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which has its identification card normallycovered by a lid and which is flush with the surface of the suitcase orthe like and is of inconspicuous appearance, so that it-when said lid isclosedhardly can be noticed and does not appear as an identificationdevice.

Still another object of the present invention is'the provision of adevice of the character described Ywhich is simple in construction, sothat it can be manufactured and sold at a very reasonable price, andwhich is also sturdy and durable as well as easy to manipulate.

Yet a still further. object of the present invention is the provision ofa device of the character Adescribed which can be attached 'to anyexisting pieces of luggage or the like Without substantial alterations,and which is likewise well adapted to be attached t new objects whilethey are being manufactured.

Further objectsof the instant invention reside in any novel feature ofconstruction or operation or novel combination of parts present in theembodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanyingdrawing whether within or without the scope of the appended claims andirrespective of other specific statements as tothe scope of theinvention contained herein.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a top elevation of a suitcase which is provided with apreferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 yis a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my inventionas it appears before it is attached to a suitcase or the like and beingshown with its`1id open and drawn in an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showingthe device with its lid about half open;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2showing the device with its lid closed; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing the numeral I denotes an entire embodiment of myinvention comprising an open casing 2 of metal, plastic material,` woodor the like which has a back wall, side walls and-end walls which areflanged at the front, and which is adapted to be arranged in a recess inthe object to be identified in such a manner that the top, portion ofthe casing is flush with the surface of said object as indicated inFigure 4. The casing 2 is preferably rectangular, and an identificationcard 9 bearing the 'namev and address of the owner is placed upontheback Wall of the casing 2. In order to prevent any possible tamperingwith the identification card 9,1 prefer to protect the same by means ofa transparent plate'y 4, which is above the card 9 and whose edgesengage grooves 3 thatare provided in the end and side walls of thecasing 2 (Figure 4, 5, and 6)..

A lid 5, preferably consisting of 'thevsame material as the casing 2, ispivotally arranged in the upper portion of the casing 2 in such a mannerthat ite-when closed-is ush with the outwardly flanged extremities atthe front of the side and end walls of the casing 2. I prefer to carryout this feature of my invention in the manner shown in the drawing,where it will be seen that a pin 6 is extended throughthe lid 5 and isin spaced relation to the latters left longitudinal side, andiboth endportions of the pin 6 are extended through the end walls of the casing 2as well as through lugs l (Figs. 5 and 6). When the lid 5 is closed itcovers the entire otherwise visible surface of the transparent plate 4,so that the identification card 9 cannot be seen. In order to open thelid 5, one presses slightly upon its right longitudinal edge, whereuponit will assume the position illustrated in Figure 4.

In order to prevent any protruding of my new and improved identificationholder I (when the lid 5 is closed) over the surface of the suitcaseCFFTCE I0, I prefer to provide said surface with a recessed portion inwhich rests the outwardly flanged portions of the side and end Walls ofthe casing 2, and to extend the major portion of the latter into thesuitcase l0, as shown in Figure 4. The casing 2 itself can be secured tothe object l by any suitable means preferably by means of tongues 8which are driven through yand anchored in the Wall ofthe object L0`(Figure .4) and which are formed fas a unit with the outwardly angedportions ofthe side Walls of the casing 2.

In order to facilitate the insertion and the removal' of theidentification card 9, I prefer 'to provide one of the end wallsfozthecasingZ with a slot 2l) (Figure 5), which is long and wide enough topass the card 9 therethrough. Specifically for facilitating the removalv:of an :identification card, for instance in case of a change inownership of the object l0, there may iaise gbe provided another slot'2J in the opposite shorter fsideiwailliof'itheieasing. `This slut 2i!.isiof :such is 'placed in such a Vimanrier `:that tthe transparentplate 4 can be pushed therethrough. arrangement vfof fthe :slots lEL"and 2.1 imakes it practically impossible to interchange 'rid'enitiie:nation .fcamds fS -uriiess ttl-1e suitcase :lili Eis fopen, so ,thatany *tampering -With -the identification card 9 can be prevented almostentirely bygkeeping Vthe object '|50 flocked.

v".'Ilhe Icolor iand outer fappearance iof zthe ,entire holder l ispreferably chosen so thatiit willpblen'd fwiihhefutherittingstoftheobject h,thus;;1nak ing the device highly inconspicuous. The il-id .a5:closed -zexceptfumen neuessary "to .open it .for positive identication.

sinueffcertainiohangesmaybe'made-inthevabove .mfticle .fand dierentembodiments 4:oi .the zinvenitun :conld :be made Without departing from:the scope athereof, it isntendedthat .allfmatter con- 1:tained ,finithe :above description .fori/shown .fin fthe Zam:ompanying drawingshall be interpreted :as :illustrative l:and fnat Ain a limiting sense.

It as :also :to he @understood :that the ffoilowing tolaims`areintendedifto .coverall :of the genericandspexzinifeaturesfo'theinventionihereinidescribed,

fand :all `:statements -of :the -scope of ,the invention 5:ulrich `as iamatter tof `language might fbe zsaid ato Vifall :therebetween Having`thusgsiully .described myfsaid invention,

.Whatjzclainnasznew andzdesireito secure 4by Lety.said casing, atransparent plate resting upon said card and having its edges receivedin said grooves iin'tlieendiandside :walls of said casing, an opaque lidinserted in the upper portion of said casing VAin such a marmer that itis normally iush With thev'outwardly .flanged portions at the front andside walls, and a pin extended through said lid nat -sometdistance fromits edges and through the end walls of said casing, said casing beingern- ?:bedded sin the gobjectito ibe :identified iin such a manner:thehunt 'of said :outwardly anged -side twail aisiush l,with the:surfacepf said object, and at .least :one .of 'fsaidwallshavingpahorizontal ,slot adapted for :passing -said icard therethrough. 3. ...Anidentificati-on holder :comprising -,an open :rectangular :casing havingsa fback hWall land side fandlend Wallswhich are sprovidedwith groovessat ytheirinn-er',sideszand salidgside'wallsbeing:anged routwardlyfat'the VTfront,1an identificati-on cardrrest- ,ing uponfthe fback'wall AofYsaid casing, a transaparent plate :resting upon :said card :and havingits edges received in said grooves in the side'aand -end .Wails of fsaidcasing, an npaqueflid zinserted inzthe :upper portionpff-,saidicasing insuchiaiman :ner thatit :'isenorm-ally flush .with :outwardly flanged:extremities of sai-d `side walls, and :Ka pin extended fthrough theiupper portion of :the end walls vof 'said casing .andzthrough :,saidlid:and vbeing parallel to and ,.infspaced V-Jrel'a'tion topne `uf ftheiside :walls :of said xcasing, saidicasing iheing adapted .'.to zbefarranged in a irecess in the object =to ihe 'identified inxsuch.afm'anner that the front portion of the-:casing Ais lush '.wlith :theisurface oisaidiobjieet, fand one of the :end wallshaving ,a`@horizontal -slot adjacent :said fcard.

LESFI'ER 57B. COLEMAN REFERENCES zomED Thejfollowingreferences are ofrecord in fthe iilie4 of this i patent:

' UMTED STATES. vPAri.t1i.\r,1's

Number Name @Date 2887?;692 Reynolds May `12, '1908 1153503275 Ganowitz-Aug.` 1.'7., 1920

